Moore leading Firebirds to respectability

The first season for the Flint Firebirds was tumultuous to say the least.

However, if the first month of the Ontario Hockey League season is any indication, the Firebirds could make a big impression on the league this season.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a guy like Ryan Moore in the lineup. The 19-year-old native of nearby Troy, MI was a part of the first-year team last season, appearing in all 68 games and collecting 48 points (23g, 25a). Previously he started with the Windsor Spitfires, where he was drafted in the Second Round (35th Overall) in 2013, splitting time between Windsor and Plymouth the following season.

The fall, the OHL vet has blasted out of the gate with a league leading 21 points (10g, 11a) through the team’s first 10 games, helping them to a 5-4-0-1. But things haven’t been great of late as the Firebirds have dropped four of its last five, including a split on home ice last weekend as the Firebirds snapped a three-game skid with a 5-4 edge against the Mississauga Steelheads on Oct. 14 before dropping a 5-3 decision to the Barrie Colts the following day at Dort Federal Event Center.

Nicholas Caamano, 18, from Ancaster, ON and a Fifth Round (146th Overall) selection of the Dallas Stars has also chipped in with 17 points (6g, 11a) in 10 games and Kole Sherwood, 19, from New Albany, OH has five goals and five assists so far.

The goaltending has been split evenly between Garrett Forrest, 19, from Virginia who has posted a 2-2-0-0 record including a shutotut, stopping 109 of 118 for a 2.40 Goals Against Average and a .924 Save Percentage and Connor Hicks, 19, from Kanata, ON. Hicks has compiled a 2-1-0-1 record so far with a 4.21 GAA and an .858 SP.

The Firebirds will try to get back on a winning track this weekend with three games, starting at the Essar Center in Sault Ste. Marie against the Greyhounds Friday night. It will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Firebirds return home for games on Saturday against the Windsor Spitfires and Sunday against the Kingston Frontenacs. The Spits defeated the Firebirds 7-2 in Windsor on Oct. 13 and the Frontenacs from the other Conference, have not played the Firebirds yet.

Spirit looking for turnaround

The start to the season has not been as kind to the last place Saginaw Spirit with a 1-6-1-1 record so far.

The Spirit snapped a six game season opening losing skid with a win at home against the the Ottawa 67’s on Oct. 8 but last weekend the team fell to both the Kitchener Rangers, 6-2 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium and 3-2 in overtime against the Steelheads at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw.

The Spirit has been led offensively so far by Brady Gilmour, 17, from Grafton, ON with six points (4g, 2a) in nine games while Mitchell Stephens (2g. 3a), 19, from Peterborough, ON and Hayden Hodgson (1g, 4a), 20, from Leamington, ON both have five points.

In goal, the Spirit has split games between three keepers. Evan Cormier, 18, from Bowmanville, ON and a Fourth Round (105th Overall) selection of the New Jersey Devils at this past summer’s NHL Entry Draft has appeared in five games, posting a record of 1-2-1-1 with a 3.52 Goals Against Average and a .903 Save Percentage.

Brendan Bonello, 17, from Mississauga, ON has appeared in four games with an 0-2-0-0 record, a 6.31 GAA and a SP of .819 and Cameron Lamour, 16, has appeared in three games with an 0-2-0-0 record with a 2.3a GAA and an SP of .896.

This weekend the Spirit will travel to Budweiser Gardens in London Friday for a game against the host London Knights and then play host to the Frontenacs at the Dow on Saturday.